The Barale Fratelli 2016 Barolo Castellero opens to immediate intensity with black fruit aromas that taste soft, rich and slightly overripe. This is a medium-bodied wine with a loose or open-knit texture that gives it an accessible personality. The mouthfeel is amped up with bitter cherry, blackberry and balanced spice or smoke. Fruit comes from a two-hectare vineyard at 270 meters above sea level with characteristic Sant'Agata marl soils and fossils. Fermentation kicks off with indigenous yeasts, and maceration lasts up to one month. The wine ages in traditional oak casks for three years. Some 9,500 bottles were produced.

Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (92)